Laundry Quandary

Doing laundry is a chore but it doesn't have to be complicated. A little planning and a schedule will keep you from getting buried in a mountain of dirty clothes. Start with a sorting system; keep white, colors, towels and dry clean only items (check the label if unsure) separated to quickly start a washing when you have a full tub. When I have an on suite washer and dryer, I like to do a load about every other day so I don't get overwhelmed and end up spending an entire day catching up. If you use a laundry room with multiple washers and dryers, you can do several loads at the same time.

Once your fabrics are separated, use an unscented liquid detergent to avoid allergy reactions. Whites should be washed in hot water, colors in cold. I usually wash sheets and bedding, even if they have a pattern or color, in warm or hot water. Once the wash, rinse and spin cycles are completed, move everything to the dryer and add an unscented dryer sheet.

When the load of clothes or towels are dry, remove and fold or place on a hanger while still hot. This usually keeps the wrinkles away and diminishes the need for ironing. Once on a hanger, if items need a touch up, they can quickly be refreshed with a home steam machine before putting them away in the closet.